A new award to recognise Business Transformation will join the list of 11 categories recognising all kinds of achievement including High Growth, Product Innovation, Environmental Sustainability and Social Enterprise. 

 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the awards were a chance to recognise and celebrate Brisbane’s boldest business minds who make a critical contribution to the local community and economy. 

 

“We are determined to make Brisbane Australia’s most business-friendly city, a destination where leaders are supported to grow, evolve and expand here and around the world,” Cr Schrinner said. 

 

“The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards have become a crucial platform to help local businesses make new connections, which can lead to growth in jobs, revenue, or social impact.

 

“We encourage businesses of all sizes, from all industries, to apply to celebrate the innovation that’s transforming our city for a brighter future.”

 

Now in their 18th year, the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards have recognised over 150 local businesses for an outstanding contribution to Brisbane. 

 

Last year’s International Business category winner, Populous, has designed some of the world’s largest modern stadiums from its headquarters on Adelaide Street, including Suncorp Stadium and venues that will host FIFA Women’s World Cup Games in the coming months.

 

Chris Paterson, Senior Principal and Director, Populous said establishing a strong local reputation through the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards helped boost the company’s global credibility. 

 

“Being involved in this calibre of awards helps local businesses like Populous to build relationships with clients and cities across the Asia Pacific,” Mr Paterson said.

 

The wins keep coming for Rebecca Dredge – CEO and founder of Kiddo – who has grown her childcare platform to over 30,000 users and launched a new childcare recruitment service since winning the Outstanding Micro Business award in 2022. 

 

“Like a lot of small businesses, we work 24/7 – around the clock – so to win this award was a dream come true,” Ms Dredge said. 

 

“Participating in the Lord Mayor Business Awards helped us establish and reinforce our identity in the Brisbane business community.”

 

Young Business Person of the Year, Dr James Fielding has spent the past six months rolling out ambitious plans to grow his hearing health company Audeara, which won the award for Outstanding Small Business. 

 

“I really believe the recognition we received has particularly helped support our home-grown expansion plans, as we continue to work with new partners and help more members of our local community to look after their hearing health and feel more connected,” Dr Fielding said. 

 

“Fast forward 6 months and we’re now preparing to launch our headphones across Europe. In the USA, we’ll soon be stocking Audeara products in two out of five of the world's leading audiology groups.”

 

The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards are delivered by the Brisbane Economic Development Agency to help support and grow businesses making an important contribution to Brisbane’s economy. 

 

The benefits extend well beyond the ceremony, with past winners and finalists joining an esteemed alumni community creating vital connections for support and collaboration. 

 

Nominations close on Friday, 7 July. 

 

Nine categories are open to businesses:

 

·       Business Chamber Queensland Small Business Award 

·       Virgin Australia Micro Business Award 

·       Accenture Australia Product Innovation Award 

·       Australia Pacific LNG Business Transformation Award 

·       Hutchinson Builders Social Enterprise Award 

·       ANZ High-Growth Business Award 

·       Urban Utilities Environmental Sustainability in Business Award 

·       Cisco International Business Award 

·       ISPT Investment in Brisbane Award 

 

Two categories open to individuals:

 

·       Port of Brisbane Young Business Person of the Year Award 

·       The Courier-Mail Business Person of the Year Award 

 

A final category will recognize an outstanding overall winner (not open to nominations):

 

·       Optus Platinum Award 

 

 

Visit lmba.com.au to enter the 2023 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.

 

The Lord Mayor’s Business Awards are possible thanks to partners: Accenture Australia, ANZ, Australia Pacific LNG, BDO, Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Business Chamber Queensland, Channel 7, Cisco, Epicure, Hutchinson Builders, ISPT, NW Group, Optus, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, Sirromet, The Courier-Mail, Urban Utilities and Virgin Australia.